Latching Devices For Bracelets And/Or Animals&#39; Collars And Chains

ABSTRACT

The latching devices of the present invention is an innovative latching device that secures animals&#39; collars and chains together and provides hidden latching method for the bracelet, and necklace and is seamless and appealing. Moreover, the latching device of the present invention is easier to lock and release compared to traditional fastening means such as clasps or buckles. The latching device comprises a main housing unit, a center coin with a hook (latch) underneath, a spring, and a receiver ring. To lock the latching device, the receiver ring is slid into the housing and secured by the center coin at locked position. To open the latching device, the center coin is pressed; the receiver ring is then released from the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a latching device, and more particularly to a latching device that secures a bracelet, chain or collar together.

2. Description of Related Art

Most of the traditional fastening means used for bracelets or necklace are not hidden and thus may be unsightly. Most of the fastening means such as lobster claw clasps, toggle clasps, etc. may not be easy to lock and release. Therefore, it is desirable to have a different type of fastening means for necklaces and bracelets.

Most of the animals' collars and chains are secured by buckles. It is desirable to have different latching devices to secure animals' collars and chains.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple and seamless latching device that secures necklaces, bracelets, and/or animals' collars, and chains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The latching devices of the present invention have never been used in any animals' collars or chains. Therefore, it is an innovative latching device that secures animals' collars and chains together. It provides hidden latching method for the bracelet, and necklace, thus it is seamless and appealing. Moreover, the latching device of the present invention is easier to lock and release compared to traditional fastening means such as clasps or buckles.

A latching device comprising a main housing unit, a center coin, and a receiver ring. The main housing, preferably made from 316L stainless steel, has an opening for the receiver ring to enter, a recess to house most working parts of the device, and a circumferential wall. The center coin, preferably made from stainless steel, is disposed on top of the main housing unit and is vital in respect of providing locking and releasing mechanism for the latching device. The center coin has a hook underneath which can lock into the open space of the receiver ring after the receiver ring is slid through the opening into the main housing unit. The latching device further comprises a steel spring which is located inside the main housing and is meant to provide pressure against the center coin so as to maintain the hook locking into the receiver ring. When the spring is pressed the hook is pivotally lifted up from the receiver ring. Therefore, the receiver ring can be slid out of the housing. When the latching device is in locked position, the latching device is seamless.

In one embodiment, the center coin has two arms perpendicularly extending from the bottom of the center coin and located at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions respectively, each arm has a hole. The main housing unit also has two holes on its circumferential wall at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions respectively. The center coin is attached to the main housing unit by linking (or attachment) means which may include stainless rod(s), screws, and bolts.

In another embodiment, a different type of pressure method instead of a spring can be used to provide pressure against the center coin and the releasing mechanism of the latch.

The size of the opening in the main housing unit and the size of the receiver ring may vary in other embodiments.

The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals.

FIG. 1A is an isomeric view and FIG. 1B is a top view of a latching device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are sectional views of the latching device in FIGS. 1A and 1B along the x-axis.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are two different angled isomeric views of the latching device in FIGS. 1A and 1B showing the latch is in the unlatch/released position (where the center coin is pressed and the hook is lifted up from the open space of the receiver ring).

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the latching device along the y-axis showing the latch is in the released position (where the center coin is pressed and the hook is lifted up from the open space of the receiver ring).

FIG. 5A is an isomeric sectional view of the latching device along the y-axis and FIG. 5B is a cross sectional view of the latching device along the y-axis; in both FIGS. 5A and 5B, the latch is in the locked position (where the hook is locked into the open space of the receiving ring which is in the housing unit).

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the latching device according to a first embodiment of the present invention disclosed in the aforementioned figures.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the latching device of a second embodiment wherein the center coin and housing are attached by a pair of screw (or bolts or rods) at two different locations separately instead of by a long rod.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a dog's collar with the latching device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1A to FIG. 6, there is disclosed a latching device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention which comprises a main housing unit 10, a receiver ring 20, and a center coin 30; all these components are preferably made from stainless steel 316L and may be made from other metal material. FIG. 1A is an isomeric view and FIG. 1B is a top view of a latching device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are sectional views of the latching device in FIGS. 1A and 1B along the x-axis. In this embodiment, the latching device 1 further comprises a steel rod 40 and a steel spring 50.

As shown in FIG. 5B and 6, the center coin 30 has a top face 38 and a bottom face 39. The center coin 30 has a hook 32 and two arms 34 (with holes 36) perpendicularly extending from the bottom face 39 at about 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 6 o'clock positions respectively. The main housing unit 10 supports most working parts of the device 1. The main housing unit 10 is in a disk shape having a large recess 12 (FIGS. 5A and 6) in the center for housing most of the working parts of the device such as a spring 50, and hook 32 all the time, and part of the receiver ring 20 when the latching device is in a locked position. The main housing unit 10 also comprises a circumferential wall 13 which has two holes located at about 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions respectively, and an opening 14 on its wall for the receiver ring 20 to enter. The securing rod 40, preferably made from stainless steel, having a length of about the diameter of the housing 10 is used to secure the center coin 30 onto the housing 10 via holes 36 on the two arms 34 of the center coin 30 and two holes 14 on the side of the housing 10. The steel spring 50 is located inside the housing 10 at about 3 o'clock position and beneath the center coin 30. The center coin 30 disposed on top of the recess 12 with its hook 32 and arms 34 disposed inside the recess 12 of the housing unit 10 is vital to the device 1 for it to secure the receiver ring 20 in place at the locked position. It also acts as a releasing means for releasing the receiver ring 20 from the housing 10.

When the receiver ring 20 is inserted into the housing 10 through the opening 12 the hook 32 and spring 50 work together to lock and release the receiver ring 20 to and from the housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The hook 32 locks into the open space 22 of the receiver ring 20 and the spring 50 provides pressure against the center coin 30 so as to maintain the hook 32 locking into the open space 22 of the receiver ring 20. The spring 50 also provides mechanism for releasing the receiver ring 20 from the housing 10. By pressing the center coin 30 which depresses the spring 50, the hook 32 is pivotally lifted from the open space 22 of the receiver ring 20 (as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4) and thus the receiver ring 20 can be easily released from the main housing unit 10 to open the latching device 1.

In another embodiment, the center coin 30 could be attached instead of using a rod that goes through both the sides of the coin 30 to secure to the housing unit 10 it could be attached separately using other type of linkages (or attachment or connecting means) including a pair of rods, screws and/or bolts or other means of attachment (as shown in FIG. 7).

In another embodiment, the latching part (i.e. hook 32??) of the center coin 30 can be moved or reconfigured to still make attachment to the receiver ring 20 but essentially be the same.

In another embodiment, the main housing unit 10 can be reconfigured with a smaller or larger opening 16 to allow different size of receiver rings 20 to be used for attachment.

In another embodiment, the device 1 uses a different type of pressure means to provide pressure against the center coin instead of a spring.

The main housing unit, center coin, receiver ring, linking (or attachment) means, spring or other pressure means are preferably made from metal especially preferably stainless metal but they may be made from other materials.

Referring to FIG. 8 there is disclosed a latching device 1 of the present invention used with a dog collar 2. Using a dog collar as an example, when a person uses the latching device 1 of the present invention with a dog collar 2, they place the collar 2 around the dog's neck, then, they slide the receiver ring 20 through the opening 16 into the main housing 10 unit until it clicks into place and locks the collar around the dog's neck as illustrated in FIG. 7. When they remove the collar the person would press the center coin 30 causing the hook 32 to be lifted from the open space 22 of the receiver ring 20, therefore, unlocking the receiver ring 20 from the housing unit 10. Then, they would slide the receiving ring 20 out of the housing unit 10 to remove the collar from the dog.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A latching device for a bracelet, necklace, chain, or collar, the latching device comprising: a main housing unit being a disk in shape having a large recess in the center, a circumferential side wall and two holes opposite to each other at about 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position respectively on the side wall, and an opening at about 9 o'clock position; a connecting means of a length almost equal to the diameter of the main housing; a center coin having two arms perpendicularly extending from the bottom of the center coin and a hook perpendicularly extending from the bottom of the center coin, the two arms are located at about 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position respectively and the hook is located at about 9 o'clock position, the center coin being disposed on top of the recess of the housing and secured by the stainless steel rod which is interposed between holes on the arms of the center coin and holes on the wall of the housing; a spring located inside the recess of the housing at 3 o'clock position opposite to the hook providing pressure against the center coin and releasing mechanism; and a receiver ring having an open space for receiving the hook of the center coin, the receiver ring entering into the main housing unit through the opening of the main housing
 2. The latching device of claim 1 wherein the main housing unit, center coil, receiver ring, connecting means, spring are preferably made from stainless steel.
 3. The latching device of claim 1 wherein the main housing unit, center coil, receiver ring, rod, spring may be made from materials including but not limited to metal.
 4. The latching device of claim 1 wherein the connecting means including a rod, screw, and/or bolt.
 5. A latching device for a bracelet, necklace, chain or collar, the latching device comprising: a main housing being in a disk shape having a large recess in the center, a circumferential side wall and two holes opposite to each other at about 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position respectively on the side wall, and an opening at about 9 o'clock position; a center coin having two arms perpendicularly extending from the bottom of the center coin and a hook perpendicularly extending from the bottom of the center coin, the two arms are located at about 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position respectively and the hook is located at about 9 o'clock position; means for connecting the main housing and center coin being interposed between holes on the arms of the center coin and holes on the wall of the housing such that the center coin being disposed on top of the recess of the housing; means for providing pressure against the center coin and releasing mechanism for the latch being located inside the recess of the housing at 3 o'clock position opposite to the hook; and a receiver ring having an open space for receiving the hook of the center coin, the receiver ring entering into the main housing unit through the opening of the main housing.
 6. The latching device of claim 5 wherein the means for connecting the main housing and center coin including a pair of screws, bolts, and/or rods.
 7. The latching device of claim 5 wherein the means for providing pressure against center coin and releasing mechanism for the latch including a spring.
 8. The latching device of claim 5 wherein the main housing unit, center coil, receiver ring, rod, spring are preferably made from stainless steel.
 9. The latching device of claim 5 wherein the main housing unit, center coil, receiver ring, rod, spring may be made from materials including but not limited to metal.
 10. A latching device for a bracelet, necklace, chain or collar, the latching device comprising: a main housing being in a disk shape having a large recess in the center and an opening; a center coin having a hook perpendicularly extending from the bottom of the center coin; means for connecting the main housing and center coin; means for providing pressure against the center coin and releasing mechanism for the latch; and a receiver ring having an open space for receiving the hook of the center coin, the receiver ring entering into the main housing unit through the opening of the main housing.
 11. The latching device of claim 10, wherein the main housing further having a circumferential side wall and two holes opposite to each other at about 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position respectively on the side wall; the opening is about at 9 o'clock position; the center coin further having two arms perpendicularly extending from the bottom of the center coin; the two arms are located at about 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock position respectively; the hook is located at about 9 o'clock position; the means for providing pressure against the center coin and releasing mechanism for the latch is located at about 3 o'clock.
 12. The latching device of claim 10 wherein the means for connecting the main housing and center coin including a pair of screws, bolts, and/or rods.
 13. The latching device of claim 10 wherein the means for providing pressure against center coin and releasing mechanism for the latch including a spring.
 14. The latching device of claim 10 wherein the main housing unit, center coil, receiver ring, rod, spring are preferably made from stainless steel.
 15. The latching device of claim 10 wherein the main housing unit, center coil, receiver ring, rod, spring may be made from materials including but not limited to metal. 